World famous photographer Douglas Kirkland to speak at BHSU

Internationally-recognized fashion and portrait photographer and Canon Explorer of Light, Douglas Kirkland will give a free public lecture on the Black Hills State University campus in Spearfish. The lecture will take place in Meier Recital Hall Wednesday, April 18 from 7 to 9 p.m.
 
 A recognized Canon Explorer of Light and giant of the fashion, movie and portrait photography world, Kirkland has lectured on photography and exhibited his images worldwide. He is best known for his celebrity portraits but the scope of his work is far wider.
 
He has worked on movie sets including “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” “2001 A Space Odyssey,” “Out of Africa,” “Titanic,” “Moulin Rouge,” and “Australia” Baz Luhrmann’s epic starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. Kirkland has also published numerous books including “Light Years.” “Icons,” “Legends,” “Body Stories,” “An Evening With Marilyn,” and the best-selling “James Cameron’s Titanic.” His next book "Physical Poetry Alphabet" with Sylph Editions will be released in September 2018.
 
Kirkland’s photographs grace the permanent collections of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, the Smithsonian, The National Portrait Gallery in Canberra Australia, the National Portrait Gallery in London, the Eastman House in Rochester, N.Y., the Houston Center for Photography, and the Annenberg Space for Photography in Los Angeles. In September 2008, Vanity Fair Italy organized a retrospective of his work at the Museum of the Triennale in Milan.
 
A partial list of Kirkland’s awards and achievements include, Photographer of the Year from the Photo Marketers Association (PMA), a Lucie Award for Outstanding Achievement in Entertainment Photography from the International Photography Awards (IPA) in 2003, The Golden Eye of Russia in April 2006 and a Life Time Achievement Award from Canadian Association of Professional Image Creators (CAPIC) in his native Toronto Canada in May 2006. In October 2007, Douglas received an Honorary Master of Fine Arts Degree from Brooks Institute for his deep commitment and dedication to his profession.
 
The Canon Explorers of Light program began in 1995 to celebrate and highlight the work of outstanding professional imaging creators. For more than two decades the Explorers have been inspiring and educating photographers of all levels. Today, the group is comprised of dozens of the most influential photographers in the world, each a master of their creative specialty.

This event is one of several that Canon sponsors through a partnership with the University, which began several years ago after a donation of cameras, lenses and other equipment to the photography program at BHSU.
 
BHSU offers a bachelor of fine arts degree in photography. The photography program at BHSU offers classes that span all aspects of the profession from basic to advanced studio and commercial photography. Graduates will find career opportunities in photojournalism, commercial photography, and fine art photography.
 
BHSU has among the finest darkroom and digital imaging facilities in South Dakota and the surrounding region with three black and white and color labs, a film developing area, and an imaging lab. The digital imaging lab is complete with multiple Mac computers, scanners, and various large format and desk-top printing stations. Students also have access to a 2,000 square foot commercial studio and a new alternative silver and digital printing lab.
 
The public is invited to tour the photography facilities at BHSU and view student work. For more information or to set up a tour, contact the BHSU Photography Department at 605-642-6769.